Unspool Hollywood

BAD ATTITUDE: The Art of Spain Rodriguez California Premiere at the 2021 Mill Valley Film Festival

Directed by: Susan Stern
Featuring: Spain Rodriguez, R. Crumb, Art Spiegelman, Trina Robbins, Aline Kominsky-Crumb, Ed Piskor, Nora Rodriguez, and Susan Stern Runtime: 1 hour 11 Minutes
Rating: | Not Yet Rated
Genre: Documentary

Moving, thought-provoking, both personal and political, Bad Attitude: The Art of Spain Rodriguez explores the controversial art and life of the legendary underground cartoonist through the lens of his wife, Emmy-nominated filmmaker Susan Stern.

From the propaganda comics of WWII, to the underground comics breakthrough in 1960s New York and San Francisco, to the graphic novels of today, Bad Attitude is an enthralling history of comics and a rousing call to art and activism. Featuring a roster of friends and family, Bad Attitude dives deep into Spain’s life with insight from comics luminaries R. Crumb, Art Spiegelman, Trina Robbins, Aline Kominsky-Crumb, and Ed Piskor, and features animation by Spain’s daughter, the New York-based artist, Nora Rodriguez.

“Bad Attitude is a love letter to my partner in art and life, Spain Rodriguez, but it is also a love letter to all activists, especially artist-activists,” says director Susan Stern. “I hope Bad Attitude creates a space for conversation about the art and social justice we are trying to make, the ways we fail, and how we can be forgiven.”

BAD ATTITUDE: The Art of Spain Rodriguez | 2021 Mill Valley Film Festival

Premiere Screening - Thursday, October 14th @ 7:30pm - Sequoia 2, Mill Valley.

2nd Screening - Saturday, October 16th -@ 7:00pm - Pacific Film Archive, Berkeley.

Bay Area Films at the 44th Annual Mill Valley Film Festival https://www.mvff.com/mvff44-bay-area-films/

Website: www.badattitudedoc.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/badattitudedoc
Twitter: www.twitter.com/badattitudedoc
Instagram: www.instagram.com/badattitudedoc

Director and Producer: Susan Stern
Associate Producer by Victoria B. Fender
Edit0r: Elizabeth Finlayson, Jim Klein, Bill Weber, and Fender
Cinematographer: Naiti Gámez and Vicente Franco
Original Score: B. Quincy Griffin
Music: Santana, Jerry Lee Lewis, Jesse Hill, Ben King, The Fugs, and Charles Mingus
Featuring: Spain Rodriguez, comics luminaries R. Crumb, Art Spiegelman, Trina Robbins, Aline Kominsky-Crumb and Ed Piskor
Writers: Ishmael Reed, feminist critics Susie Bright and Andi Zeisler, and Mission District artists René Yañez, Rio Yañez and Yolanda López
A Bernal Beach Films production

View Trailer Below!

THE PAN AFRICAN FILM FESTIVAL’S STATEMENT ON THE DEATH OF MICHAEL K. WILLIAMS

Los Angeles, CA - Ayuko Babu, co-founder and executive director of the Pan African Film Festival (PAFF), released the following statement about the death of actor Michael K. Williams who was best known for his role as Omar Little on HBO's "The Wire."

“Brother Michael was an incredible actor. He captured a depth of humanity to his characters that reflected his own. We will miss him. Our condolences to his family and loved ones. We all share in his loss.”

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OUR AMERICAN FAMILY World Premiere at Woodstock Film Festival 2021

A World of HA Productions Film in association with Atlas Industries and The Intellectual Property Corporation Presents OUR AMERICAN FAMILY

Directors & Producers: Hallee Adelman, Sean King O’Grady
Genre: Documentary
Country: USA
Runtime: 1 hour 27 minutes

WOODSTOCK FILM FESTIVAL 2021 Screenings:

WORLD PREMIERE--Saturday October 2 @ 3:45pm at the Bearsville Theater (291 Tinker St. Woodstock NY, 12498)

Sunday October 3 @ 2:00pm at Orpheum Saugerties Theater
(156 Main St. Saugerties NY, 12477).

OUR AMERICAN FAMILY is a radically honest, unfiltered portrait of a close-knit Philadelphia family fighting its greatest nemesis: generational addiction. Beginning with a pivotal, “nothing to lose” moment, then captured over the course of the following year, five family members tired of life plagued by addiction on center stage, each struggle to transcend their crippling histories: a mother who learned from childhood to enable her own mother’s addiction, a daughter who doesn’t know who she is without a substance, a son who learned everything about “Heroin 101” from his sister, a younger son who feels alone but acts content to ease the family’s burden, and a stepfather who wonders if addiction is really a disease or simply a by-product of laziness. What will it take to shift this entrenched, wrenching pattern in their lives? How will they each free themselves from their interlocking fates? Will they be able to make significant changes to help their next generation? The members of OUR AMERICAN FAMILY invite us into their lives to find hope and to explore what is possible. No experts. No drug use. No melodrama.

WFF 2021 WEBSITE FOR TICKETS:
https://woodstockfilmfestival.eventive.org/films/our-american-family-60e5d6fb66fa930069afa5bd

FILM WEBSITE:
https://ouramericanfamilyfilm.com

Instagram: @ OurAmericanFamilyFilm
Facebook: @ OurAmericanFamilyFilm
Twitter: @OurAmerFamFilm

PR CONTACT:
EMMA GRIFFITHS, EG PR
E: EMMA@EG-PR.COM

SALES CONTACT:
SUBMARINE/ BEN SCHWARTZ
SCHWARTZ@SUBMARINE.COM

View New Trailer for TED BUNDY: AMERICAN BOOGEYMAN on VOD + DVD Friday, September 3rd

TED BUNDY: AMERICAN BOOGEYMAN will have its US VOD and DVD on September 3, 2021 (Dark Star Pictures).

VOD Platforms: iTunes and Apple TV, Amazon, Google Play, Vudu, Xbox/Microsoft, Comcast/Xfinity, Spectrum, Cox, Verizon Fios, Dish Network, Direct TV and through local cable providers.

A specter roams the highways of a gritty and decadent 1970s America, hunting for his next prey—his name is Ted Bundy (Chad Michael Murray). Tracking him down are the intrepid female detective Kathleen McChesney (Holland Roden), working out of the Seattle Police bureau, and rookie FBI profiler Robert Ressler (Jake Hays), the government agent who coined the term “serial killer.” This is the true story behind the manhunt that brought America’s most fearsome boogeyman to justice.

Daniel Farrands wrote and directed the project, which stars Chad Michael Murray (House Of Wax, The Haunting In Connecticut 2: Ghosts Of Georgia, and Riverdale) as Bundy. Rounding out the key cast are Genre actress Lin Shaye (Insidious franchise, The Grudge, Penny Dreadful: City Of Angels) and Holland Roden (Escape Room 2, Teen Wolf).

ABOUT DARK STAR PICTURES

Dark Star Pictures is a new-age North American distribution company, focused on bringing unique and targeted content to audiences across the country. We are committed to releasing auteur-driven, original cinema in the theatrical, digital and home video space. Our goal is to create original marketing campaigns directly catered to audiences who will embrace our brand of thought-provoking cinema. Recent releases include Tribeca Midnight Selection Honeydew, Sundance favorite Koko-di Koko-Da, Cannes Official Selection Enfant Terrible and the newly announced SXSW psychological drama Freeland.

Website: https://darkstarpics.com

#TedBundy #AmericanBoogeyman #TrueCrime

Key West Film Festival Announces the Diana King Memorial Fund in Partnership with the King Family Foundation

Key West, FL — August 25, 2021 — The Key West Film Festival and The Charles and Lucille King Family Foundation are pleased to announce the creation of the Diana King Memorial Fund, in memory of the Foundation’s founder and longtime President and Chair, an outstanding philanthropist recognized for her commitment to educational opportunities in film, television and other media, who passed away in 2019. The five-year grant from the Foundation, beginning with the 10th Anniversary of the Key West Film Festival November 17-21, 2021, will support Key West Film Festival’s annual celebration of film and filmmakers, as well as student film awards and educational initiatives.

“We are beyond grateful for this generous grant from the King Family Foundation,” says Key West Film Festival Chairman, Brooke Christian. “Creativity is alive and thriving through the challenges of the past year – we have seen it in this year’s surplus of film submissions. The Diana King Memorial Fund will help us ensure we can celebrate film, education and student filmmakers for years to come.”

Diana King grew up in the world of television, a daughter of the late Charles King (who founded King World Productions in 1964) and his wife Lucille King. King World became the leading distributor of television syndicated programming in the United States, including such iconic series as The Little Rascals, Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy!, The Oprah Winfrey Show, Inside Edition and Dr. Phil. Diana began working in the accounting department of the family business in 1972, and at the time of King World's acquisition by the CBS Corporation in 2000 served as Executive Vice President, Corporate Secretary and Director.

Diana established the Foundation in 1988 to support individuals and organizations committed to educational excellence and professional development, in particular in film, television and other media. During her 30-year tenure as Board Chair and President, the Foundation awarded hundreds of scholarships to students with a focus in film, television and related media/communications studies at colleges and universities around the country, in many instances to individuals who would have been financially unable to continue their studies without this assistance. In addition, the Foundation has acted as a longtime sponsor of programs at several leading cultural and educational institutions around the country.

About the Key West Film Festival

Honoring creativity, diversity, sustainability and beauty, the Key West Film Festival is an annual celebration of film and filmmakers set to take place November 17-21, 2021.

A diverse, entertaining and artistically rigorous selection of films will be represented through a broad array of categories that offer opportunities for filmmakers, both aspiring and established, to commune and exchange ideas while showing their work to audiences in an historic and artistically vibrant tropical paradise.

Media Inquiries:

EG-PR
Emma Griffiths
E: emma@eg-pr.com
W: www.eg-pr.com

FIRE MUSIC: Movie Review

Submarine DELUXE Presents In Association with Joseph Wemple, Films We Like, Mexican Summer and Nothing Is...

FIRE MUSIC

John Coltrane ©Lee Tanner - The Jazz Image

Director and Writer: Tom Surgal
Featuring: Ornette Coleman, Cecil Taylor, John Coltrane, Alber Ayler, Sun Ra, Eric Dolphy, and many more
Genre: Documentary
Language: English
Country: U.S.A.
Runtime: 1 hour 26 minutes

A Crash Course in Free Jazz 101

The Angry form of improvisational jazz comes to life in Tom Surgal's documentary 'FIRE MUSIC'.

The history of this under appreciated form of of Jazz begins with the 1956 release of Cecil Taylor's first album Jazz Advance. It was Ornette Coleman's first album Something Else!!!! and his later release
Free Jazz: A Collective that gave us the first of freely improvised music., Sun Ra's Jazz in Sihoutte, Archie Shepp's, Albert Aylar's, Bill Dison's contributions are highlighted in Surgal's musical documentary.

Sun Ra December 1968 Photo @Baron Wolman

The sounds of John Coltran's Ascension, his take on the style of free improvisation. There is Don Cherry,
who moved the needle of Free Jazz to the inclusion of international musicians that lead to Alex von Schlippenbach's
release of the first Globe Unity Album.

You hear the sounds of the Art Ensemble of Chicago with Wadada Leo Smith and Anthony Braxton. Peter Brotzmann and his
groundbreaking recording Machine Gun that showcases Evan Parker and Han Bennink.

Tom Surga. Photo: Lin Culbertson

Understanding is an important quality to have and Surgal's documentary gives you just that, an understanding of Free Jazz
that assist in the appreciation of this radical form of music known as Free Jazz.

Run time: 1 hour 26 minutes
Featuring: Ornette Coleman, Cecil Taylor, John Coltrane, Alber Ayler, Sun Ra, Eric Dolphy, and many more
Director and Writer: Tom Surgal
Producers: Dan Braun, Joseph Wemple
Executive Producer: Ron Mann
Cinematography: Dan Ehrenbard
Editor and Co-Writer: John Northrup
Composer: Lin Culbertson

View New Trailer for ‘AILEEN WUORNOS: AMERICAN BOOGEYWOMAN’

Aileen Wuornos AmericanBoogeywoman_Poster

AILEEN WUORNOS: AMERICAN BOOGEYWOMAN will have its Fathom Release (Over 750 theaters nationwide for one night) on September 20 with a US VOD Release to follow on October 8, 2021 (Dark Star Pictures).

VOD Platforms: iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, Vudu, Xbox/Microsoft, Comcast/Xfinity, Spectrum, Cox, Verizon Fios, Dish Network, Direct TV and through local cable providers.

Companion piece and ‘Monster' Prequel, AILEEN WUORNOS: AMERICAN BOOGEYWOMAN focuses on serial killer Aileen Wuornos, whichisalso directed by Farrands and stars Peyton List in the title role (Cobra Kai , Tobin Bell ("Jigsaw"from the Saw Franchise), Lydia Hearst (The Haunting Of Sharon Tate), Nick Vallelonga (Green Book), Swen Temmel (In Time, Backtrace), Meadow Williams (Boss Level. Den Of Thieves), and Andrew Biernat (Shadow's Edge).

Based on Aileen Wuornos’s early life in 1976, the film follows America’s most notorious female serial killer in Florida when she marries an older wealthy Yacht Club president only to inflict mayhem within her new family and Florida’s high society.

Filmmaker Daniel Farrands

ABOUT DARK STAR PICTURES

Website:https://darkstarpics.com

Follow at: #AileenWuornos #AmericanBoogeywoman #TrueCrime

Ted Bundy: American Boogeyman Movie Review

Director and Writer: Daniel Farrands
Starring: Chad Michael Murray, Lin Shaye, Holland Roden, Jack Hays
Genre: Horror
Language: English
Runtime: 1 hour 50 minutes

Chad Michael Murray in Daniel Farrands' TED Bundy: American Boogeyman Photo Credit: Dark Star Pictures/Voltage Pictures

Director and writer Daniel Farrands new film 'Ted Bundy: American Boogeyman' tells the story of the 1970s murderer Ted Bundy (Chad Michael Murray), who terrorizes America with his senseless slaughter of women. but is unable to evade Seattle detective Kathleen McChesney (Holland Roden) forever with the help of FBI profiler Robert Ressler (Jake Hays).

Many stories have been told about Ted Bundy over the years, yet Farrands said his reason for adding another film about Bundy, "I wanted to show that Bundy, despite being somewhat smart and mildly charming was, in the simplest terms, an absolute monster."

Farrands makes no excuses for his behavior and does not focus on his childhood or the circumstances he endured growing up, instead he chooses to humanize his victims, giving a name to the faces of Bundy's victims.

Chad Michael Murray in Daniel Farrands' TED Bundy: American Boogeyman Photo Credit: Dark Star Pictures/Voltage Pictures

Ted Bundy: American Boogeyman is filled with the horror of a psychopath and the destructions left behind and the trauma inflicted on the families of his victims and America as a whole.

Director of Photography, Luka Bazeli captures the intense, gruesome nature of a serial killer. Dan Riddle, Editor weaves the various stories of the tragic demise of Bundy's victims bringing it all together in a compelling story.

Ted Bundy: American Boogeyman gives its viewers an opportunity to focus on those who lost their lives, all the girls and women who lives were cut short at the hands of Bundy.

Holland Roden in Daniel Farrands'TED Bundy: American Boogeyman. Photo Credit: Dark Star Pictures/Voltage Pictures

Runtime: 1 hour 50 minutes
Production Co.: Voltage Pictures Presents
A 1428 Films and Green Light Pictures Production
Distributor: Dark Star Pictures
Director and Writer: Daniel Farrands
Starring: Chad Michael Murray, Lin Shaye, Holland Roden, Jack Hays, Olivia Delaurentis, Diane Franklin
Executive Producers: Alan Pao, Luke Daniels, Nicolas Chartier, Jonathan Deckter
Producers: Lucas Jarach, Daniel Farrands, Daniel Davila
Director of Photography: Luka Bazeli
Editor: Dan Riddle
Music: Steve Moore

View Trailer Below!

FINDING KENDRICK JOHNSON Now Available on Digital + Video on Demand

Screening Nationwide in Theaters this Fall
Premiering on Starz - December 2021

A documentary by Jason Pollock
Narrated by Jenifer Lewis
Produced by Malcolm D. Lee
Runtime: 1 hour 42 minutes

On January 11th, 2013, Kendrick Johnson was found dead in his high school gymnasium rolled up in a gym mat. The state of Georgia ruled his death as an accident, having died from positional asphyxia. When the family hired their own Forensic Pathologist, not only did he find KJ’s organs missing from his body during the autopsy, he determined the cause of death to be from non-accidental blunt force trauma. To this day, no one knows where KJ’s organs have gone.. So what really happened to KJ?

FINDING KENDRICK JOHNSON is the feature documentary product of a 4-year undercover investigation into the facts of this case. From the creator of 'Stranger Fruit', this new documentary hopes to shed light on one of the most important American stories of our time.

Told through the eyes of KJ's family and close friends, Narrated by Hollywood legend, Jenifer Lewis, Directed by 'Stranger Fruit' creator, Jason Pollock, with an amazing team of Producers including Actor Hill Harper, and Space Jam 2 Director Malcolm D. Lee, FINDING KENDRICK JOHNSON shares this truly historic, heartbreaking, and unbelievable story with the world for the first time.

“The case of Kendrick Johnson is one the most important cases in U.S. history,” says writer/director Jason Pollock. “KJ deserves justice, and hopefully our film will help his family get one step closer to that outcome.”

"This is the most important film I've ever worked on,” says actor and activist Jenifer Lewis. “What this family has gone through is unspeakable but we must speak it so the public knows the truth. Jason has done a brilliant job on this vital story of injustice.”

FINDING KENDRICK JOHNSON is now available on digital and video on demand and will be heading to theaters nationwide this Fall, before premiering on Starz in December 2021.

View Trailer Below!

‘ALL MY PUNY SORROWS’ Screening at TIFF 2021

Director and Writer: Michael McGowan
Starring: Alison Pill, Sarah Gadon, Amybeth McNulty with Donal Logue and Mare Winningham
Country: Canada
Language: English
Runtime: 1 hour 43 minutes

'ALL MY PUNY SORROWS' TIFF 2021-SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS SECTION

TIFF 2021- FESTIVAL SCREENINGS

Press & Industry Screening 1- Friday, September 10, 2021- 1:00PM- digital TIFF Bell Lightbox Pro

Press & Industry Screening 2- Friday, September 10, 2021- 2:00PM- Scotiabank 3

Public Screening 1- Saturday, September 11, 2021- 5:30PM- Visa Screening Room, Princess of Wales Theatre

Public Screening 2- Sunday, September 12, 2021- 1:00PM- digital TIFF Bell Lightbox Pro

Public Screening 3- Thursday, September 16, 2021- 9:00PM- digital TIFF Bell Lightbox Pro

Public Screening 4- Friday, September 17, 2021- 7:00PM- Cinema 2

All My Puny Sorrows Filmmaker Michael McGowan

Based on Miriam Toews’ best-selling novel, ALL MY PUNY SORROWS unexpectedly infuses wry humor into this heart-wrenching story of two loving sisters: one a gifted pianist (Sarah Gadon) obsessed with ending her life, the other a struggling writer (Alison Pill) who, in wrestling with this decision, makes profound discoveries about herself.

Michael McGowan is a film writer, director and producer known for tackling complex material with an effortless style. In his latest film, McGowan adapts the internationally acclaimed bestselling novel All My Puny Sorrows by Miriam Toews.

McGowan’s previous film, Still Mine (2012) starring James Cromwell, was a New York Times critic pick. The film received accolades globally including sixCanadian Screen Award nominations, including Best Picture,in addition to Cromwell winningthe CSA for Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role.

For the feature Score: A Hockey Musical (2010), McGowan served not only as producer, writer and director, but also as lyricist. It was the opening night film of the Toronto International Film Festival and took top prize at the Chicago International Music and Movies Festival.

McGowan’s other award-winning features include One Week (2008) and the critically acclaimed Saint Ralph (2004).